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Upcoming Immigration Restrictions on H-1B Visas and Students’ Visas You Need to Know About

Upcoming Immigration Restrictions on H-1B Visas and Students’ Visas You Need to Know About

According to several outlets and press reports, there may be a rising apprehension of more H-1B visa restrictions and likewise shrinking of student visa opportunities. In other words, the Trump administration is going to enact more immigration restrictions. Several news outlets have observed that many of the proposed rules can materialize eventually. It is highly likely that the administration is going to restrict employers, visa holders and students alike to engage in commercial activity and the marketplace. Here, our EB-1A experts have precisely highlighted what proposed rules can materialize and become real over time.

Finalizing the proposed immigration restriction rules

Interestingly, in March 2026, the DOL published a proposed rule that aims to significantly elevate the prevailing bar of wages for H-1B hiring. Needless to say, this update will make H-1B hiring much more expensive. The proposed rule can increase the required minimum salaries by 21% to 33%, based on the worker’s experience level. With the rule’s comment period being about to end, DOL can potentially finalize the rule in late 2026 or in the outset of 2027.

Below is a clear comparison between new prevailing wages and old prevailing wages under proposed rule changes:

Likewise, in August last year, the Department of Homeland Security came forward with a rule that proposes to replace the current “duration of status” rule for international students with a predetermined and fixed admission period. In other words, this rule, when passed, will make it harder for students to stay in the program for longer than four years. This reform may discourage many students from pursuing their studies in the United States. Hence, when it comes to acquiring a PHD or some equivalent higher studies degree, if the students do not finish their studies within the ordained years, they might be forced to quit before even earning a degree.

Other upcoming proposed immigration rules that might materialize

The Trump administration is reportedly preparing a new immigration rule that could significantly tighten access to the H-1B visa program for highly skilled foreign professionals. According to policy analysts and immigration experts, the proposed regulation may revive several controversial provisions from the administration’s failed 2020 H-1B rule. That earlier rule sought to sharply narrow the definition of “specialty occupation,” consequently making it more difficult for skilled foreign workers to qualify for H-1B status. It also attempted to limit the placement of H-1B employees at third-party client locations, a practice commonly used in the technology and consulting industries. However, federal courts blocked the regulation on grounds that officials likely violated the Administrative Procedure Act by bypassing the standard public rulemaking process.

This time, Trump officials are expected to pursue the policy through formal regulatory channels. The initiative is reportedly being shaped by senior immigration hardliners, including former White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, who has long advocated for reducing both temporary and permanent immigration pathways.

Alongside the H-1B restrictions, the administration is also expected to target Optional Practical Training (OPT) and STEM OPT programs for international students. Currently, OPT permits foreign graduates to work in the United States for up to 12 months in their field of study, while STEM graduates can receive an additional 24-month extension. There might be further shrinkage of opportunities for the OPT and STEM holders.

Stay tuned with our blog section to get all the latest updates on U.S. immigration policy. For guidance on green card consulting, get in touch with our EB1A consultants today. We wish you a safe and stress free immigration journey ahead.

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